Mixed results for Fins rookies, beyond Tannehill

If Ryan Tannehill becomes a top-15 NFL quarterback, the Dolphins’ 2012 draft will be considered a success.

The hope internally, of course, is that the quality of this group goes far deeper that Tannehill, that this rookie class eventually is regarded as the best overall since Jeff Ireland’s arrival in 2008.

The signs, so far, are generally encouraging, with third-rounder Michael Egnew the only one among Miami’s top five picks who isn’t contributing.

Coach Joe Philbin has been so pleased with right tackle Jonathan Martin’s development that he made a point to tell him last week.

“I was watching some of the one-on-one pass rush,” Philbin said. “I usually don’t go down there, but I commented on some of the good things he’s doing. He’s getting better, there’s no doubt.

“From where he was in the preseason, to what he’s done [recently], I like the development I see. He’s a very aware player, and I think he has a chance to be a good one.”

Martin, selected 42nd overall out of Stanford, gave up a sack in the opener but hasn’t allowed another one since. He never played a single snap at right tackle until the Dolphins drafted him, and the transition “was rough at first,” he said.

“I was using muscles I wasn’t using before. My balance is better now, and it’s close to second nature now. I’ve done some good things.”

Martin, who plays to attend law school someday, already prepares like a veteran, with a bedtime routine of studying film of himself and his opponent. “He’s athletic, strong and getting better every week,” left tackle Jake Long said.

But Philbin said he’s not ready to anoint Miller or Thomas as his No. 2 running back. He said playing time will depend partly on matchups.

The Dolphins seem to trust Thomas more in pass protection, even though he gave up a sack last Sunday. Thomas pass-protected on 10 of his 21 snaps against Arizona; Miller had that assignment only one of his eight snaps.

“In college, you can be patient,” Miller said of carrying the ball in the NFL. “Someone will miss an assignment and a hole will open. In the NFL, people aren’t missing assignments.”

UM coach Al Golden has kept an eye on Miller and said: “It seems like he’s got his burst and he’s getting to the edge in the NFL, which is really hard to do.”

Vernon, meanwhile, produced four quarterback hurries in his 34 snaps against Arizona and has six in 97 snaps overall, according to Pro Football Focus, which ranks him 27th among 59 defensive ends who play in a 4-3. He also has half a sack.

Vernon and Miller, former teammates at UM, appreciate being able to begin their NFL journey together. “It has helped a lot,” Miller said. “We stay on each other, tell each other to pick it up.”

Vernon said when he and Miller are together, special teams coach Darren Rizzi “will say: ‘Look -- It’s the U boys!’”

Egnew, who hasn’t been active for any of Miami’s four games, remains the one disappointment in the group, with offensive coordinator Mike Sherman acknowledging this week that the 78th overall pick is still making “rookie mistakes.”

The Dolphins believe Charles Clay is clearly ahead of Egnew as a No. 2 tight end and like using Jaron Mastrud for about a dozen plays a game, because of his value as a blocker.

Egnew, whom the Dolphins envision as a potential stretch-the-field threat, wasn’t asked to block a lot at Missouri.

“I’m way better as an in-line blocker than when I got here,” he said. “I’ve got to be more consistent with pass catching. [General manager] Jeff Ireland tells me to keep getting better. He views me as a weapon.”

Egnew said he’s not scarred by Sherman telling him in preseason that he would cut Egnew if Sherman were general manager – a scene aired on HBO’s Hard Knocks. “I have thick skin,” Egnew said. “He’s a great coach and his methods are not questionable.”

But he said he needed to become more “private” on social media after that unfortunate moment on Hard Knocks, because so many people were commenting about it.

Tannehill, Martin, Miller and Vernon aren’t the only rookies contributing. Jorvorskie Lane, four years out of college but listed as a rookie, starts at fullback. Defensive linemen Derrick Shelby and Kheeston Randall have played 50 and 44 snaps, respectively.